DURANGO, Colorado – The Southwest region of Colorado Parks and Wildlife shared this incredible video of a huge elk herd crossing a road outside of Durango. While there are clearly a few buck and plenty of cows, it’s the calves that you can really hear, and the sound they make might surprise you (make sure to watch this one with the sound on).
Elk make a whole host of noises, from the famous bugle of a rutting bull, to the warning bark of a cow elk, to the general chirp made by all elk. The chirp of a calf calls for attention from the cow, sometimes in the case of a lost calf. There are plenty of places to view elk across the western United States, but perhaps the most famous is Estes Park in Colorado.
Elk rut, which is quickly approaching, is the most common time to search out elk viewing locations. During the September and October rutting season, it’s near impossible to drive through Estes Park without spotting at least one elk and hearing a good bugle or two. Like any large wild animal, elk can be dangerous, especially male elk during rut, and cow elk during calving season. If you see some elk from your car, your best bet is to stay in your car, like the person in the video above. If you see them outside, make sure to give them plenty of space (at least 25 yards).
More on viewing elk safely during rutting season can be viewed below.
Town of Estes Park on Safely Viewing Elk During Rut
“Every day our dispatch center receives numerous calls for police officers to respond to elk issues around Town, and the vast majority of issues are caused by people,” commented Estes Park Police Chief Wes Kufeld. He explained that the most common reports to dispatch are people getting too close to the elk and elk jams, caused when drivers park their vehicles in the way of traffic in order to watch the elk. Kufeld continued, “Safety should be first on the minds of elk-viewers, so they can have a great experience.”
The Police Department provides the following tips to visitors for safe elk viewing:
- Elk are wild animals which must be observed from a safe distance to avoid injury or death. If an animal is carefully watching you and appears jumpy when you move, you are too close.
- Keep pets secured on a leash and do not allow them to bark at, lunge at, or chase wildlife.
- Never block traffic. Move your vehicle to a safe place completely off the roadway to watch elk.
- Do not imitate an elk call, or bugle, when elk are irritable during the rut. This can endanger you and the elk.
- Elk know no boundaries, but people do. Respect private property when viewing wildlife.
The Estes Park Police Department does enforce wildlife laws including laws against feeding or harassing wildlife, or allowing one’s pet to harass wildlife.